On Tuesday, October 24, a program "Religion and Power: The Power to Create, the Power to Destroy," will feature distinguished scholars James Carroll, Vincent Cornell, and Donniel Hartman. Held at Grand Valley State University's Eberhard Center in Grand Rapids, the program includes a full day of sessions where each of the three experts will speak on their religion, followed by responses from the other two speakers. An evening session will engage all three presenters and Martin E. Marty, who will be the moderator of the entire program.
Sylvia Kaufman, one of the founders of the Muskegon based group, stresses that this isn't a political event, but a theological dialogue. The committee has provided a major dialogue program of regional and national significance every three years. This year, the program has been expanded to include a Muslim speaker and has moved to Grand Rapids in collaboration with Grand Valley.
This event is sponsored by the Lily Endowment Inc., the Jewish Federation of Grand Rapids, The Grand Rapids Community Foundation, the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation, Community Foundation for Muskegon County, United Jewish Charities of Greater Muskegon, Community Foundation of the Holland Zeeland Area, Grand Rapids Center for Ecumenism, Muskegon County Cooperating Churches and numerous West Michigan Individuals, organizations and corporations.
Such generous support makes it possible to offer the full day program for a mere $10 registration fee. Those registrants have the option of purchasing the $10 lunch and/or a dinner/discussion for $20. The evening session after the dinner is open to the public without charge. For more information contact: Sylvia Kaufman at (231) 727-3407 or [email protected] or Douglas Kindschi at [email protected] or visit www.jewishchristiandialogue.org.
SPEAKER INFORMATION:
James Carroll is an ordained Catholic priest who left the priesthood to become a writer. The author of 10 novels and several award-winning nonfiction books lectures widely on Jewish-Christian reconciliation, on Catholic reform and on war and peace. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and has been a fellow at the Kennedy School of Government ay Harvard University and at Harvard Divinity School.
Vincent Cornell is a practicing Muslim and was recently named the Asa Griggs Candler Professor of Middle East and Islamic Studies at Emory University. He previously served as Professor of History and Director of the King Fahd Center for Middle East and Islamic Studies at the University of Arkansas as well as Chair of Studies in the Religious Studies Program. He is a nationally known scholar in Islamic Studies and his expertise extends across the entire field, from Islamic history to theology and law.
Donniel Hartman, an Orthodox Rabbi, is Co-Director of the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem, a leading innovator in the field of pluralistic Jewish thought and Judaic research. It is a major center for Rabbinic, teacher, and lay leadership education as well as interfaith learning. He holds degrees in Jewish and General Philosophy from Hebrew University, N.Y.U. and Temple University where he majored in Christianity and Islam. He earned a Ph.D. in Jewish Philosophy from Hebrew University.
Martin E. Marty is the Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus at the University of Chicago, where he taught in the Divinity School for 35 years. He is the author of more than 50 books, a speaker, columnist and Lutheran pastor. He earned a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago and is the recipient of more than 70 honorary degrees, the National Humanities Award, the National Book Award, and the Medal of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
